Exclusive: Ferrari working on a new supercharged engine with electric turbocharger

According to our sources located in Italy, Ferrari is currently working on a supercharged engine that also features an electric turbocharger. The Italian manufacturer wants to completely eliminate the turbo lag as the new electric turbocharger provides staggering power when starting off.

Still, this is not something new as Audi already revealed its RS5 TDI Concept, while Mercedes-AMG head of powertrain development Jochen Martin Schmid said that the company is considering electric turbochargers. Ferrari said back in June that they will reduce their CO2 footprint and lower CO2 emissions across the range by 20 percent by 2012.

If today Ferrari’s average CO2 figure stands at 270 grams, this number is expected to drop by three percent each year on average. The latest model from Ferrari, California T, comes with a new 3.8-liter V8 turbocharged engine that delivers 560 hp (412 kW) ad 556 lb-ft (755 Nm) of torque. As a result, the California T hits 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.6 seconds, while top speed is in excess of 300 km/h or 186 mph.

Thanks to the new electric turbochargers, the new supercharged engines from Ferrari are expected to deliver more power as well as lower fuel consumption.

There is also a rumor that the facelifted Ferrari 458 Italia will drop the naturally aspirated 4.5-liter V8 in favor of the turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 engine used by the California T.

According to our source, one thing is for sure: the V12 engines from Ferrari will remain naturally aspirated and the Italian carmaker will use its new technology on smaller powerplants.